Cutting apparatus



April 9, 1946..

W. J. KELLER 1 CUTTING APPARATUS Filed-March 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Shet lY/VVENTOR "5J KELLER A TTORNEY April 9; 1946. w. J. KELLER CUTTINGAPPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,.

Fil ed March 31, 1944 //V VE N TOR W J KELLER if? M A TTOR/VEV l andthrough a threaded member 2|.

Patented Apr. 9, 1946 CUTTING APPARATUS William J. Keller, Jersey City,Western Electric Company,

N. J., assignor to Incorporated, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 31, 1944,Serial No. 528,912

6 Claims.

This invention relates to cutting apparatus, and more particularly toapparatus for cutting predetermined lengths from tubular or solidmaterial.

In the communications arts insulating bushings are frequently employedas parts of electrical units. These bushings are frequently out fromtubes of the material desired, it being important, for accurate assemblyof the bushings with the other parts of the units, that the bushings beaccurate in length and that their ends, resulting from the cuttingoperations, be parallel with each other and at right angles with respectto their center lines.

An object of the invention is to provide a cutting apparatus which issimple in structure and highly efficient in successively and accuratelycutting predetermined lengths from material.

With this and other objects in view, the inven tion comprises a cuttingapparatus having a rotatable cutter and a work support adapted torepeatedly move supplies of material relative to the, cutter to causecutting of given lengths from the material, with intermediate means toadvance the material given distances between each cutting operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of theapparatus, portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus, portions thereofbeing broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of theapparatus, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailed view taken substantially along the line44 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to Fig. 1,where a base I0 is mounted upon a bench or other suitable support II andhas a U-shaped bracket |2 fixed thereto for supporting a speed reducingunit M. An electric motor l5, having its shaft l6 connected to an inputshaft ll of the unit I 4 through a suitable coupling l8, may also besupported by a bracket similar to the bracket |2. An output shaft 20, ofthe unit I 4, extends vertically through the base The has an annularflange 22 in. end upon which is mounted an annular cam 23. A keyway 25is formed in the threaded member 2| and, through the aid of a key 26,the threaded member is held against rotation with the-shaft 20 but ispermitted to move axially of the shaft to vary the position of threadedmember 2| tegral with its upper the cam 23 with respect to the base H].A micrometer element 21, disposed concentric with the threaded member 2|and threadedly engaging the member, is adapted to cause axial movementof the member measured distances controlled by indications 28 upon theperiphery of the element 21 movable relative to a zero position or point29, the latter being disposed upon a fixed member 3|) mounted upon thebase ID. A finger 3|, fixed to the element 21 and having a laterallyprojecting portion extending into an annular groove 32 of the member 30,serves to hold the element 2! against axial movement relative to themember 30.

The cam 23 is annular in general contour, centrally apertured at 34forthe shaft 20, and provided with an upper surface which has a highportion adjacent a cutting element 35, a diametrically opposedlower'portion, and connecting intermediate diagonal portions. Thusapproximately one-third of the upper surface area of the cam 23 adjacentthe cutting element is termed high portion and is indicated at 31, Whileapproximately another third of the upper surface. positioned away fromthe cutting element and diametrically opposite the high portion, is alow portion 38. Between these portions, at each side of the cam, areconnecting diagonal portions 39. The complete functions of the cam willhereinafter be described.

Attention at this time 2|), the upper end of which is reduced as at 40,where it is keyed, as at 4|, to a work supporting element 42, the latterbeing centrally apertured, mounted upon the reduced portion 40 and thereheld in place by a washer 43 and a screw 44. An annular member 45,mounted also upon the reduced portion 40 of the shaft 20 and fixed tothe element 42 as at 41, is spaced from the element near its peripheryto provide an annular groove 48 for the cutting element 35. A pluralityof work receiving apertures 49 is formed in the member 45 at spacedpositions adjacent its periphery, to receive material or work 50, whichin the present instance is tubular insulating material. Apertures 52 arealso formed in the ele ment 42 in alignment with the apertures 49 of themember 45, to receive transparent tubular material receiving members 53.These members 53 extend like distances above the element 42, to receiveand support desired lengths of the material 50, their transparent natureallowing the operator to observe their remaining lengths of material inthe tubes during the operation of the apparatus so that additionallengths of mais directed to the shaft 2 terial may be placed thereinbefore the previous lengths have been spent. An annular groove 55 isformed in the element 42, this groove continuing into the tubularmembers 53 for approximately one-half the cross-sectional areas thereoffor receiving a flexible element in the form of an endless belt 56. Asheave 58, rotatably supported at 59 upon a bracket 65, mounted upon thebase [0, is grooved to receive the belt 55 and be rotated by the beltwith the element 42.

The cutting element 35 may be of any desired structure, for example, acircular metal saw, disposed upon an internally threaded clampingelement 63 of a shaft 64 and secured in place by a companion clampingelement 65 centrally apertured for a shoulder screw 66 receivable in acentral aperture of the cuttin element. A threaded shank 5'! of theclamping element 55, adapted for interengagement with a threadedaperture 68 of the clamping element 63, provides interconnection of theclamping elements to clamp the cutting element therebetween. With thisstructure it is possible to readily remove the cutting element 35 fromthe apparatus and replace it with another cutting element merely byremoving the screw 66 and clamping element 65 from the element 63. Theshaft 64 is journalled in suitable bearings 69 and and carries a pulleyII which is driven by a belt 12 connected to any suitable power means(not shown). ing 14, including a cover 15 hinged thereto as at 15,jointly surround the cutting element, except the portion disposed in thegroove 48, to receive the particles resulting from the cuttingoperation. An outlet 11 for the casing 14 may be connected to anysuitable suction means (not shown) to remove the particles resultingfrom the cutting operations.

The cam 23 is apertured, at 85, adjacent the cutting element 35, toreceive a chute 8|, the upper end of which is disposed in the aperture80 and fixed thereto by suitable means (not shown). The chute 8i ispositioned to receive the portions or lengths severed from the material50 and to direct them to a receptacle or other suitable receiving means(not shown).

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed thateach of the transparent holders or tubular members 53 is provided withmaterial 50, that the cutting element is rotated, and that the motor [5is energized to cause rotation of the shaft 20 through the actuation ofthe unit l4. The element 42 is then rotated in the direction of thearrow (Fig. 2), causing movement of the belt 56 therewith. To obtain aclearer understanding of the apparatus it is suggested that one of thework supplying stations be selected and followed through one completecycle of the element 42.

Selecting, for example, the bottommost station in Fig. 2, the materialat this station is about to be released by the belt 55, allowing thematerial 50 to drop by gravity onto the adjacent inclined portion 39 ofthe cam 23 and rest thereon, continuing to move downwardly until itreaches the low portion 53. The material will continue to move relativeto the cam over the low portion 38 until it reaches the next tapering ordiagonal surface 38, at which time it will start to move upwardly in itsholder or tubular member 53. At substantially the mid point of thepresent diagonal surface 39 of the cam 23, this material will be movedinto engagement with the belt 56 and will be forced by Y gagement withthe innermost surface portion of A casthe belt into intimate enitsholding or tubular member 53. This holding effect on the materialcontinues for the next half cycle of the element 42.

Returning to the position where this holding means begins, adjacent themid point of the present diagonal cam surface 39, the material isgripped and moved by the diagonal cam surface into a measured positionupon the high portion 39 of the cam 23, to assure feeding of a measuredlength of the material to the cutting element 35. The material, asheretofore stated, continues to be held by the belt in its tubularmember, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, to thus firmly hold thematerial perpendicular with respect to the cutting element and againstdisplacement during the cutting operation when the material is presentedto the cutting element 35. By viewing Fig. 3, it is apparent that themember 45 supports the material beneath the cutting element, aided, ofcourse, by the holding force of the belt 56. The desired length issevered from the supply of material by the time it reaches the chute 8|,this length of material dropping down the chute and into a suitablereceptacle. Continuing with this selected material, a length of whichhas just been severed therefrom, the material continues to be held inplace by the belt until it reaches the selected starting position, afterwhich the material is freed and lowered to drop upon its adjacentdiagonal cam surface 39, where the material is again advanced to againprepare it for another feeding operation to the cutting element.

This same operation continues successively for each supply of material,the combination of the belt and cam assuring feeding of given lengths ofthe material to the cutting element, the belt further functioning, aidedby the holding or tubular members 53 for the material and the member 45,to firmly hold the material so that accurate cuts may be made therein toassure parallel relationship of the ends of the lengths severed from thesupplies of material.

The lengths of the portions severed from the supplies of material may bevaried without varying the function of the apparatus, by raising orlowering the cam 23. This is brought about through the micrometeradjusting element 21, the rotation of which causes raising or loweringof the cam measured distances relative to the element 42.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and thatvarious modifications may be made therein without departing from thescope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A cutting apparatus comprising a cutter, a support, an unpiercedholder of transparent material for a material carried by the support,means to cause relative movement of the support and cutter to causecutting of portions from the material, and means to hold the materialagainst movement relative to the support during the cuttins of thelength therefrom.

2. A cutting apparatus comprising a cutter, an unpierced tubular supportof transparent material for elongate material having a lateral openingtherein, means to cause relative movement of the support and cutter tocause cutting of portions from the material, and means adapted to enterthe opening of the support to hold the material therein against movementrelative thereto during the cutting of the portion therefrom.

3. A cutting apparatus comprising a cutter, a.

support for a material, means to cause relative movement of the supportand cutter to cause cutting of portions from the material, a measuringelement disposed beneath the support for the material to drop thereon bygravity for controlling the length of the portions cut from thematerial, and micrometer means actuable to vary the position of theelement relative to the support to vary the lengths of the portions.

4, A cutting apparatus comprising a rotatable cylindrical turret havingan annular groove in its outer periphery and spaced material receivingapertures extending through the turret and opening outwardly into thegroove intermediate their ends, a cutting element disposed at a positionad.- jacent the turret, a pulley disposed adjacent the turret at aposition diametrically opposed that of the cutting element, a beltconnecting the turret and the pulley, the latter holding the belt freeof the materials in the apertures adjacent the pulley to free suchmaterials for movement downwardly by gravity and to extend into theportion of the groove adjacent the cutting element and the adjacentapertures to cooperate with the Walls of the other apertures to grip thematerials therein during rotation of the turret relative to the cuttingelement, and an annular member held against rotation beneath the turretto support the materials dropped thereon by gravity and control thelengths cut therefrom by the element.

5. A cutting apparatus comprising a rotatable turret having an annulargroove in its periphery and spaced material receiving aperturesextending through the turret and opening into the groove intermediatetheir ends, a cutting element disposed at a position adjacent theturret, a pulley disposed adjacent the turret at a positiondiametrically opposed that of the cutting element, a belt connecting theturret and the pulley and extending into portions of the groove andapertures to free materials in the apertures adjacent pulley formovement by gravity and to cooperate with the walls of the otherapertures to grip the materials therein during rotation of the turretrelative to the cutting element, and a control member held againstrotation and having a gaging surface portion disposed in a given planeadjacent the cutting element, a receiving surface portion disposed in alower plane adjacent the pulley and an intermediate ramp portionconnecting the surface portions to force the adjacent materials, whichare held in their apertures by the belt, upwardly and onto the gagingsurface.

6. A cutting apparatus comprising a rotatable turret having an annulargroove in its periphery and spaced material receiving aperturesextending through the turret and opening into thegroove intermediatetheir ends, a cutting element disposed at a position adjacent theturret, a pulley disposed adjacent the turret at a positiondiametrically opposed that of the cutting element, a belt connecting theturret and the pulley and extending into portions of the groove andapertures to free materials in the apertures adjacent pulley formovement by gravity and to cooperate with the walls of the otherapertures to grip the materials therein during rotation of the turretrelative to the cutting element, an annular member held against rotationbeneath the turret to support the materials dropped thereon by gravityand control the lengths cut therefrom by the element, and micrometermeans actuable to vary the position of the control member relative tothe turret to vary the lengths of the portions cut from the materials.

WILLIAM J. KELLER.

